History — 1958

• 1957-1958 — Jan Berry formed a vocal group called the Barons with high school classmates Arnie Ginsburg, Dean Torrence, John Seligman, Wally Yagi, and Chuck Steele. Named after their University High School Hi-Y club, the group rehearsed atJan’s garage studio in Bel Air. They sang hits of the day with multi-part vocal harmonies and falsetto. Jan played piano and began writing original songs, including “There In the Night” (recorded by the group) and “Jennie Lee” with Arnie Ginsburg. Neighborhood musicians who jammed in the garage studio with Jan and the Barons included drummer Sandy Nelson, (of future “Teen Beat” fame) and pianist Bruce Johnston, a future member of the Beach Boys.

• April 1958 — Arwin released “Jennie Lee” by Jan & Arnie, an original composition penned by Jan Berry and Arnie Ginsburg. Distributed by Dot Records . . . In 1965, Jan Berry told KRLA Beat that the song “Jennie Lee” was inspired by the famous Burlesque performer of the 1950s and ’60s. To this day, however, Arnie Ginsburg disagrees.

JAN & ARNIE, “Santa Monica Evening Outlook,” 1958

• May 1958 — Jan & Arnie made their national television debut on The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show.

“Jennie Lee” by Billy Ward & His Dominoes — Jan’s First “Outside” Chart Record as a Songwriter — (Cover)